Oregon community reduces planet-warming pollution by building energy efficiently
Oregon community reduces planet-warming pollution by building energy efficiently KNAU Arizona Public Radio
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Super Energy-Efficient Homes Built by Tribal Community in Oregon
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
You can build a house in ways that make it comfortable while using hardly any energy. People have understood this for centuries. Think of houses in hot climates with thick walls and high ceilings so the rooms stay pretty cool by themselves. Now, at a time when climate change makes people think about energy use, a tribal community in Oregon is building super energy-efficient homes. Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Monica Samayoa met a homeowner.
Building Sustainable Homes for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
MONICA SAMAYOA, BYLINE: Marcela Selwyn is excited to see her nearly finished two-bedroom townhome.
MARCELA SELWYN: Oh, my goodness. Oh, wow.
SAMAYOA: There are 24 townhomes like Selwyn’s – all part of what’s called the Creekside Elder Housing development. These townhomes are for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s elders who live about an hour and a half southwest of Portland.
SELWYN: This is huge. I love it.
Highly Energy Efficient Design
SAMAYOA: Selwyn is 80 years old. She’s lived in a Grand Ronde community for 17 years. Her new home is designed to be highly energy efficient. She has all-electric appliances, solar panels, battery storage, a heat pump, and an electric vehicle charger. But it’s the sun tunnels she likes best that bring natural light through the ceiling to brighten hallways.
SELWYN: I never knew that – how much light there was going to be. I love that.
Working Towards Sustainable Development Goals
SAMAYOA: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde worked with a nonprofit, Energy Trust of Oregon, to put energy-saving technologies into each home in the development. The goal is to help reduce emissions that contribute to human-caused climate change.
DENISE HARVEY: We’ve all learned more about climate change and the effects of that.
SAMAYOA: This is Denise Harvey. She’s a Grand Ronde Tribal Council member.
HARVEY: And the energy efficiency opportunities come up. Pretty much today, we try and do this with all of our new construction.
SAMAYOA: Harvey says high construction costs have always been an issue for the tribe, as well as figuring out ways to help tribal members deal with wildfire smoke in extreme heat. Now, Harvey says, tribal elders can live in these energy-efficient homes while continuing the tradition of being good stewards of the Earth.
HARVEY: I think it’s just over time where you show people, you educate them, you – they experience it. And then it’s something that they’ve learned, something that’s new, something they transfer down to their children, their grandchildren.
Generating Renewable Energy
SAMAYOA: Each new home will produce enough energy from solar panels to power them without tapping into the power grid. Scott Leonard with the Energy Trust of Oregon says the tribe’s focus on building energy-efficient homes is more cost-effective than retrofitting them. He says the tribe also reduced costs by using renewable energy rebates from the state and local nonprofits. It’s a plan Leonard hopes others can replicate.
SCOTT LEONARD: It’s important for kind of everyone to know that this can be done.
SAMAYOA: Similar homes are being built in smaller communities in the country, including North Carolina. Carlos Eduardo Martin directs the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard. He says the Creekside Elder Housing development shows what can be done with energy-efficient technologies to lower emissions.
CARLOS EDUARDO MARTIN: I’m grateful for projects like this that show technologies that we know work applied to a community that needs them, that deserves them.
SAMAYOA: The technology isn’t new, but Martin says building homes with a focus on energy efficiency deserves to be embraced more.
MARTIN: I’d like to hope that we’re going to see more of this trend, mainly because of some of the recent legislation.
Conclusion
SAMAYOA: He’s referring to the country’s first major climate policy that dedicates billions of dollars toward the renewable energy transition. That includes helping homeowners switch to energy-efficient appliances – features Marcela Selwyn and other elders are enjoying.
SELWYN: I have no words to say.
SAMAYOA: Selwyn moved into her new townhouse this spring with her son and dog.
SELWYN: I’m just excited over it.
SAMAYOA: For NPR News, I’m Monica Samayoa in Portland.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
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Specific targets under those SDGs identified based on the article’s content:
- SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
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Indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Percentage of energy consumption from renewable sources
- Number of energy-efficient homes built
- Reduction in emissions contributing to climate change
- Number of households powered by solar panels without tapping into the power grid
- Amount of renewable energy rebates utilized
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Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Targets Indicators SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Percentage of energy consumption from renewable sources SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. Number of energy-efficient homes built SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. Number of households powered by solar panels without tapping into the power grid SDG 13: Climate Action SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. Reduction in emissions contributing to climate change
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: knau.org
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